04-23-09 Site Review MinutesSITE DEVELOPMENT REVIEW COMMITTEE SUMMARY
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Lower Level Main Conference Room
201 First Avenue East
ATTENDING:
Paul Burnham, Assistant City Engineer Jeff Clawson, Building Official
Tom Jentz, Planning & Bldg Director D.C. Haas, Fire Dept.
Frank Castles, Deputy Public Works Director Susie Turner, Stormwater Engineer
Sean Conrad, Senior Planner Katharine Thompson, Community Dev.
P.J. Sorensen, Chairman Michelle Anderson, Recording Secretary
Guests: Greg Lukasik, Morrison-Maierle; Erica Wirtala, Sands Surveying.
Hear the Public: No one wished to speak.
Performance Bond Reminders: None.
OLD BUSINESS: 540 West Idaho — Auto Repair: This project was approved last week at site
review. Sorensen noted they were planning on issuing the building permit tomorrow for this
project and asked if Susie Turner had a chance to look at the site. Turner said she still needs to
know how they plan to set up the pre-treatment for the sewer. Turner will check with the city's
Wastewater Treatment Plant Manager today. Parks and Rec and Fire are ok with issuing the
permit.
NEW BUSINESS: Taco Bell — 535 E Idaho: Sorensen said Taco Bell is planning a remodel and a
180 square foot addition. The work will include exterior remodeling; the storage addition; to add
curbing in the back of the building; and a screen wall on the west side of the property to prevent the
overspray from the car wash. Sorensen said there aren't too many issues from a site review
prospective unless the new curbing causes problems. Castles didn't think the curbing would be an
issue. Turner noted that there is however other curb and gutter on site that needs to be fixed. The
committee decided to approve the project adding a condition that it is approved subject to
Public Works approval of the curb and gutter.
PLANNING OFFICE ITEMS: Conrad reviewed the issues related to the 23 unit assisted living
apartment complex proposed for Grandview Drive which included the street improvements along
Grandview Drive and the bike/pedestrian path through the site. Greg Lukasik of Morrison-Maierle
noted the entire project will be paid for by a Housing & Urban Development (HUD) Grant and HUD
has very stringent requirements of what they will and will not pay for. Lukasik said the off -site
improvements to Grandview Drive and the paving of the bike path would not qualify for the funding.
ASI does not object to the need for sidewalks, curb & gutter but HUD won't pay for it and ASI
needs to find another way to fund those improvements such as a cash -in -lieu payment or something
similar to a Subdivision Improvements Agreement. The Public Works Department stated the only
way the improvements to Grandview Drive could be relaxed would be through approval by the
Kalispell City Council. Lengthy discussion was held. The following was decided:
• ASI will petition the city council to request the relaxation of the street improvements to
Grandview Drive. A condition will be added to the conditional use permit that addresses the
need for council approval and Conrad will work with Public Works on the wording of that
condition.
• There will be no contract with the city for the street improvements, sidewalk, or the bike path
but the city will serve as a pass -through agency for the funds. A cash -in -lieu fee will be paid
to the city for curb, gutter and sidewalk (or shoulder & sidewalks if approved by council) and
the paving of the bike/pedestrian path through the property. The city will hold the cash -in -lieu
for the curb and the contractor will be given the cash -in -lieu to complete the work for the
sidewalk and bike path paving. The contractor will be instructed to include the cost of those
improvements as an alternate on the bid documents.
• Lukasik will contact Parks & Rec regarding trees and landscaping on the west side of the
sidewalk.
• Although not necessarily a city requirement, if the developer wishes to have this facility added
to the regular bus service Eagle Transit would require that a bus stop be constructed either on
this property or on the east side of Grandview Drive. However, it was noted the Dial -A -Ride
service would be available.
• The water main extension will travel the same route as the bike path, ASI will grant an
easement for the path and the Parks Department will maintain the path. As noted above the
same process for the sidewalk will be used for paving the bike path.
• A 12" water main will be extended from Indian Trail to Grandview Drive and the city will pay
the difference in construction costs between an 8" main and a 12" main. The city is requesting
the cost be provided to them up front.
• Stormwater treatment will be included in the detention facility; if there will be a pipe outfall to
the ditch the downstream will have to be checked to make sure it doesn't erode because they
will be taking sheet flow to concentrated flow. There is also a storm drain outlet on the
southern property line that needs to be addressed.
Further discussion was held regarding locations to tie into the water main for fire hydrants and
considering moving the building further to the west in order to provide sufficient storm drain facilities.
Conrad asked Lukasik to email him pdf Jpeg copies of the site maps for this project.
OTHER REPORTS: Village Plaza Subdivision Waiver: Erica Wirtala, of Sands Surveying
reviewed a proposal for a 5 lot commercial subdivision in Village Plaza that would qualify for a
waiver of preliminary plat. There would be one lot that could contain an approximate 40 x 50 building
that would require 8 parking spaces and the other 4 lots would be proposed as professional office
"townhouse" lots that would have zero lot lines. P.J. Sorensen suggested they change them to condos
instead of townhouses because it would make things easier regarding several code issues, such as
parking setbacks. Clawson noted a 4 hour fire wall with no openings or penetrations would be
required for each of the townhouse's shared lot lines. If the lots are individual a common entrance for
both units could not be used. Turner asked Wirtala to submit a stormwater drainage report and geo-
technical information. Castles added Public Works would want to view the site before any decisions
on road improvements or a bike path are made. In addition the Village Plaza sign may need to be
moved, street trees will need to be installed along the project's frontage, and a parking design should
be submitted.
Valcon Site on 5t" Avenue W/N: Wirtala noted this project had come before site review in the past
however, they had different lot layouts. The lot line is now a staggered flag lot which follows the
fence line of the existing building and meets the front setback. Wirtala reviewed the site for the
committee. Wirtala said they are again asking for a waiver on this property. Conrad noted when this
was discussed about a year ago some of the issues that came up were maintaining a minimum 20 foot
setback between the existing building and the new property line; fire access to the existing building; a
shared access agreement for access onto 5th Avenue WN and perhaps a future easement would need
to be granted if the railroad tracks would be removed that would provide for a pedestrian/bike path.
Conrad noted there is another street that comes into the property, Railroad Street and asked if it is
was a city easement. Castles said no, it is not a city street. There was further discussion regarding
securing R/W for future development and who would be responsible for underlying environmental
issues on site including possible storage tanks. Public Works and the Fire Department decided they
wanted to conduct an on -site visit. Conrad asked Wirtala to email him a copy of the map. Wirtala
asked the departments to send their comments to Conrad who will then forward them on to Wirtala at
Sands Surveying. This plat will be discussed again next week at site review.
All -Weather Access for Construction Sites: Clawson changed some of the wording and the
signage because it was unclear how the fire access road would be signed. 7entz said the requirement
for all-weather access for construction sites would be for commercial, multi -family and industrial
projects, excluding single-family and duplexes. The Building Department would attach the handout to
the building permit when issued. 7entz continued the process would work like this: If the Public
Works, Building or Fire Departments see a problem the Fire Department would be contacted and they
would give the owner a call and give them 72 hours to fix the access problem. If it is not fixed within
72 hours a stop work order would be issued by the Fire Department and they will contact the City
Attorney's Office. If the contractor/developer crosses the line a citation will be issued. A courtesy
mailing will be sent out to the general contractors notifying them that this standard is not new but will
be enforced. Signage shall be posted on both sides of the access road, at the entrance and at 100 foot
intervals along the entire length of the road and access shall be constructed prior to any vertical
construction. Signage shall be a minimum of 12" wide by 18" tall mounted a minimum of 60" and a
maximum of 96" above ground and shall say,"No parking fire lane". General discussion was held on
the definition of "vertical construction" and it was decided that language would be changed to
"combustible or vertical construction above ground".
Grizzly Security — Husky Street: D. C. Haas asked what is going to be done with the razor wire that
was installed at the new Grizzly Security building on Husky Street. Sorensen said the Planning
Department sent them 2 letters that addresses the razor wire which is not allowed in the city; signs
and lighting; and depending on the use the possibility of building/fire/code issues or the need for the
change in use to be reviewed by the Architectural and Site Review Committees. Haas stated one of
our Building Inspectors was on -site yesterday and there had been "extensive" work done on the
building and the work was not completely up to code. Sorensen said they have up to April 30t'` to
remove the razor wire. Jentz also has a message to call Greg Harris, who is the owner of Grizzly
Security. Haas said Harris told our inspector that they didn't have any drawings for the work that has
been done which Haas questions due to the extent of the work completed.
Rygg Ford: D.C. Haas reminded the committee they had discussions about Rygg Ford about a year
ago and the problems with the transient encampment and vandalism of the vehicles left on the
property by the owner. This morning he met with the Police Chief and he will be requesting a map
from the Planning Department for property ownership behind the encampment. Haas said the Fire
Department will deal with the unsecured building issue however there are other issues with the
abandoned vehicles and weeds. Sorensen said the weeds have been mowed in the past however, Jentz
added, there are no ordinances that would prohibit the owner from storing the vehicles on the
property.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:37 a.m.